FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Sooty Shearwater off Back Bay NWR

["Robert Ake" <rake@xxxxxxx>]

   Yesterday (Friday, Feb 3) while co-leading a field trip for the Carolina 
Bird Club meeting in Virginia Beach I spotted a dark shearwater about 200m off 
the beach at Back Bay NWR.  Most of the group got on the bird although few if 
any had any pelagic experience.  The bird cruised the area for more than five 
minutes, landing several time in the water.  I had it in my Leica 32x scope for 
most of that time.  At one point it dropped in among nine Red-throated Loons 
with a small flock of Bonaparte's Gulls hovering above.  Obviously there was 
something good to eat below the surface.  Nearby were many Common Loons, a 
large flock of Red-breasted Mergansers, many Northern Gannets, a few Horned 
Grebes, a variety of scoters, and many Red-throated Loons.  We probably had 350 
Red-throated Loons (and a Red-necked Grebe) fly by as we were scoping the water.
    I studied the shearwater noting its medium size, normal sloping forehead 
(not blunt) and black bill (not short or thick).  The underwings showed a 
readily observable silvery sheen but no obvious white primary quills.  The 
flight included low soars over the water with a few stiff-winged flaps.  The 
wings did not display any particular crook and had no pattern whatsoever.  The 
flight did not include any high arcing or acrobatics.  The tail was not 
pointed.  In short I saw everything that made me think Sooty Shearwater and 
nothing that didn't. 
    I couldn't recall any winter records for Sooty Sheawrater, so I thought 
this would be of interest.  I'd be interested in any comments.

Thanks,
Bob

Robert L. Ake
6603 Catherine Street
Norfolk VA 23505